Billy Graham: Yes, we all sin, but Jesus was perfect

Q: I’ve heard people say Jesus never sinned, but how do they know? I can’t imagine anyone resisting every temptation or being absolutely perfect. Even the best of us make mistakes. — S.L.

A: What you say about us is true: every one of us makes mistakes, and no one can claim to be perfect. The Bible puts it this way: “There is no one righteous, not even one ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10,23).

And yet the Bible also tells us that one person actually was perfect, and that person was Jesus Christ. On one occasion his enemies refused to accept what he was teaching, and sought for some way to have him executed. In reply he asked them to prove he was a sinner and therefore worthy of death, but they could not (see John 8:46-47). The Bible says he was “tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Why was Jesus perfect? The reason is because he wasn’t only a man, he was also God. At Christmas (which we just celebrated) God came down to Earth and took upon himself human flesh. And just as God cannot sin, so Jesus Christ — who was both fully man and fully God — could not sin. Satan did his best to make him sin, but he failed.

Why is this important? Only a perfect savior could save us; only a perfect Savior could take upon himself all our sins. And he did this, when he went to the cross for us. Think of it: every sin you ever committed was placed on Christ, and he died in your place. Now he offers you salvation as a free gift. Don’t hesitate any longer, but commit your life to Christ today.